Mick O’Callaghan – traditional Irish balladeer

Mick O’Callaghan is an Irish singer songwriter who is particularly accomplished in performing traditional ballads.

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He grew up on a family farm in West Cork where he was surrounded by beautiful landscapes and seascapes.

O’Callaghan writes many of the songs that he performs but he also likes to sing lesser known ballads that may have become forgotten in time.

Mick O'Callaghan
Mick O’Callaghan

He says that his songs “reflect the times we live in as well as celebrating Irish history. I believe this traditional method of storytelling is important to Irish culture and I am striving to keep this alive.”

Irish music has heart and depth

Mick on camera
Mick on camera

He has a wide range of influences and the singers he is inspired by come from various genres. He counts Luke Kelly, Johnny Cash, Micky MacConnell, Finbar Fury, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Son House, Dean Martin, BB King, Rory Gallagher among his influences.

However, the local folklores of his childhood in Cork have also helped provide inspiration.

O’Callaghan loves Irish music because of the heart and depth it holds.

He says: “Being Irish, the haunting poetry, shanties and folklore are in my blood and I think it’s important to keep them alive.”

Performs in Cork, Dublin and Australia

He performs regularly in Cork and Dublin and has also played in London and Australia. He is also ready to take his storytelling set to festivals and lounge sessions.

He is recording an acoustic album with Colin Vearncombe (aka Black) and Fergus O’Farrell to follow his single Tinker’s Poteen & Town I Loved So Well.

‘Some things need to be conserved’

O’Callaghan is happy to follow in the tradition of his heroes. He says: “Music brings people together, despite culture, place or heritage. Times change, and change is good, but some things need to be conserved.

“I want to share in the vision of our ancestral balladeers, adapt their unique way of storytelling to tell my own stories and those of the people around me.” Click here to visit Mick O’Callaghan’s website

You can see Mick O’Callaghan’s Thousand Words in a Bottle video below

Mick O’Callaghan
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